Page:Poems - Southey (1799) volume 1.djvu/172

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156

XV.
The wind blew, the hoarse ivy shook over her head,
She listen'd,—nought else could she hear,
The wind ceas'd, her heart sunk in her bosom with dread
For she heard in the ruins distinctly the tread
Of footsteps approaching her near.

XVI.
Behind a wide column half breathless with fear
She crept to conceal herself there;
That instant the moon o'er a dark cloud shone clear,
And she saw in the moon-light two ruffians appear
And between them a corpse did they bear.

XVII.
Then Mary could feel her heart-blood curdle cold!
Again the rough wind hurried by,—
It blew off the hat of the one, and behold
Even close to the feet of poor Mary it roll'd,—
She felt, and expected to die.